-----Jaemin-----
We spent hours driving around, Taeyong-Hyung included. Jeno drove because he said it would feel freeing and his brother sat beside him, the rest of us in the back. The windows were down and there were smiles on all of our faces. It truly did feel freeing.
I still kept an eye on Jeno but he was always smiling and looked more relaxed than I had ever seen him. I couldn't help but feel happy that he was happy from all of the years he had to go through with the torment of his parents. It hadn't been fair. But now he was here, with us and that is all that matters.
"Where should we go?" Jeno questions, stopping at a red light, and turning to look at us.
We glance at each other, wondering what to say. Frankly, I wanted to go home and I'm sure my family would be happy to see all of us, together but it also felt selfish. It also felt like a chance for Jeno to be surrounded by love. Motherly love, to be precise, just how my mom had treated him before.
"How about going to Jaemin's home? You guys haven't seen her mom and I'm sure she'd like to," Donghyuck says, looking at me. I smile in disbelief. How had he known? "Is that okay with you?"
"Of course. If you guys are okay with it then so am I," I answer. "Is that okay Taeyong-Hyung?"
He ought to be the most uncomfortable if we were to go home, where my mother and brother would be, two people he had never met before.
"Of course, that's fine."
So off we were. Ultimately, we decided that we needed some days off and called into work for sick days. Mark-Hyung said that he had to go back early tomorrow but that he'd drive back as soon as possible. I was saddened by this but I could understand, that his profession is a lot more demanding than ours. At least that's what I believe.
I was close to telling him that he didn't have to drive back considering the drive was a little over an hour and he would be tired but I was selfish enough to not do it. I wanted to be with them, I think the four of us wanted that the most right now.
We drove two hours long instead of one because of how long we had traveled around but when I got there, I instantly jumped out of the car and knocked on the door.
"Coming!" I heard from the inside. Surprisingly, it was Jaehyun's voice and not my mother's.
When the door opens and he registers my presence, his eyes brighten and he laughs, taking me into his arms. It felt warm and nice to get a hug from my brother. He would always comfort me like this.
"What are you doing here?" He asks with a smile, his hands on my shoulders.
"Well... I needed a little break." I look back at the others as they wait by the car. "I hope you don't mind that I brought them with me."
He looks over and waves. "Of course, I don't mind."
"It's nice to see you guys, really," he says, looking at Mark-Hyung and Jeno as they come closer. He had already seen Donghyuck of course.
"It's nice seeing you again too, Hyung," Mark says with a grin, giving him a quick hug. Jaehyun hugs Jeno, seeing how hesitant the other was, and cheekily smiles at him.
Lastly, my brother's eyes looked at Taeyong-Hyung who was standing a step behind with a smile as he watched the interactions going on. He looks at me, confused and I explain, "Hyung, this is Taeyong-Hyung, Jeno's brother."
Recognition passes through his face and takes a step towards him. "We've met, haven't we?"
Taeyong-Hyung nods. "Yes, we have. That day at the hospital," he answers slowly.
-----Taeyong-----
A sort of understanding went between Jaemin's brother and me. We both remember that day, we both remember each other, and when we had bumped into each other. I remember the worry on his face when he had seen my red eyes and I remember not really registering him, not really caring about who he was.
But now I do. Today, he's smiling and not frowning. I agree with myself that I like how he looks today more than the last time I saw him seven years ago.
He looks cute and smart with his glasses and wow, his smile. He was handsome, ethereal, really, and I couldn't help but tell myself that he was just about the most beautiful man I had seen.
My heart beats fast when I extend my hand to him and he accepts him. My heart hasn't done that in a long time. This sort of excitement and anticipation, I mean.
"Nice to see you again," I tell him.
"Nice to see you too."
I decide to believe those words as I let go of his hand. I didn't want to be a creep and hold it for longer than necessary, after all, as much I wanted to hold it a little longer.
-----Jaemin-----
Everyone else had tensed at the reminder of that day from years ago, the last time the four of us had been together but Taeyong-Hyung hadn't noticed. He seemed a little lost when his hand touched my brother's. It made me a bit suspicious, a bit curious, and a little happy too. When he finally noticed and looked at us, he let out an awkward laugh.
"Uh, sorry about that."
Eventually, we laughed it off and we all walked into the house. Everything was left the same as the last time I had been here only a couple of weeks ago. Albeit, it was a bit messy, not that I could say anything regarding that. I know how busy both my brother and mother must be.
It felt great to be home. Relieving, really.
I turn to look at Jeno. Mark has his arm wrapped around him so with assurance, I walk to my room. I looked around and smile, finding the room a lot more comforting and nostalgic compared to the last time.
I walk towards my desk and open the first drawer. There were papers inside, some trash here and there but after moving a couple of things I found what had been buried inside for the last seven years.
A jewelry box and inside of it, an identical bracelet to the one I had given Mark-Hyung and Donghyuck the last Christmas we had spent together. Engraved on the bracelet, a promise that I knew I would keep. 'I love you. I forever will,' it said in small font in order to fit on the puzzle piece charm.
I meant to give this to Jeno ages ago but it had always escaped my mind. Now that we were all here, it seemed like the perfect time.
I gasp when I feel someone take hold of me before melting into the familiar pair of arms. I had been entranced on the phrase written on the bracelet that it had completely taken me by surprise.
"Perfect timing," I tell him. "I have something for you." I take a step forward and turn around to face him, the box hidden behind me.
"What is it?" The black-haired man questions, trying to look at my hands.
"It's something I bought before. Something I meant to give you seven years ago," I explain, bringing my hands to the front. "I hope you like it but most of all, that you take what it says seriously so that you know how much I mean it," I continue, placing it into his hands.
"Can I open it?"
I nod, smiling. There's an instant smile on his face when he sees it. He takes it out of the box and looks at it closely, with delicacy.
"I love you too." He hugs me tightly. "Forever."
He kisses me for a few seconds before we have to stop, remembering that there were other people waiting for us. "We should go back," he said with his forehead on mine.
I agreed and soon, we were heading out. Jeno went into the living room while I went to the kitchen. I grabbed everyone a glass of water and walked back to the living room where everyone was sitting on a couch. I place the glasses on the table and someone pulls me down, making me gasp. I turn to look who it is to reveal Donghyuck with a playful smirk that makes me roll my eyes while he simply tightens his arms around my waist.
"What should we do?" I ask.
"I was working," Jaehyun-Hyung confesses sheepishly.
"You work too much, Hyung. We should go out or watch a movie, we could take a walk," I say.
Taeyong-Hyung looks at us before speaking, "You four should take a walk while we stay here and make some lunch. What do you think?"
"Are you sure? Don't you want to watch a movie or something and then we can get some takeout," my brother intervenes.
"No! I think that they should get some time alone," he whispers but we all hear it, making us laugh. I was thankful, of course, because we did need that. We did need to speak and it was better if it was just us.
"Is it really okay if we go alone?" I question, looking at the two.
My brother, despite how hesitant he looked, eventually nodded. Soon, we were saying goodbye to the two older men. We spent a minute or two outside deciding where to go before we just began to walk, wherever our feet took us, as cliche as that sounds.
"How do you feel?" I'm the first to speak, looking at Jeno who was beside me.
The order we walked in was Mark on the left, Jeno and I in the middle, and Donghyuck to the right. We did our best to squeeze in the sidewalk but we eventually gave up on that and Mark had to walk off the sidewalk. We still kept him close as possible, though.
"I feel great, honestly, like really great," he laughs, placing his hand on mine. "I think it's finally over. I think that they'll finally leave me alone and that's more than I can ask for. I'm happy because of that and I'm happy that I'm here with you guys and I'll never lose you guys again. That's enough for me."
I lean my head on him as Donghyuck wraps his arm around my waist. "That is all we all could ask for. To remain together for as long as possible," he says.
We continue to walk and walk. We go to Mark's parent's restaurant and say hello to them with the pleasant surprise that Mr. Moon, one of our high school teachers, also known by us as Taeil-Hyung who Mark-Hyung had grown up with was there. So we stayed for some time chatting and catching up.
"I always knew you four would end up together," he told us.
I wondered, how was it that he or anyone else knew? How did the people around us also know about the strong love that we shared? I mean, I know about it, I know it all too well and so do Jeno and Mark and Donghyuck but how did everyone else know? I concluded that we were special, our love was special enough for anyone to recognize it and that made me immensely happy for no specific reason.
We walked again.
We ended up at the high school we had attended, where it all began and when I undeniably fell in love with them. Where I found what would become my forever.
"Do you guys remember?" I ask, looking at the building.
"What?" Mark-Hyung says.
I laugh. "Everything. The first time we saw each other, when Jeno pushed me in the hallway, when Mark-Hyung was the TA in my math class, when I would go see Jeno in the nurse's room, when Donghyuck hated me, when Mark-Hyung hated Jeno. Our story."
I look at them and they're smiling fondly with nostalgia. They're probably remembering everything just like I was, every moment that made us an 'us.'
Made our WE into forever.
"Of course we remember," Jeno responds, looking at me. "We'll always remember, even as we make new memories."
I believe him of course.
My Jeno who used to be alone and dark and refused to have my company.
My Mark who was always sweet and open and always knew what to say.
My Donghyuck who once disliked me because his crush liked me but was still nice enough to comfort me.
Who would've known we would end up here...
A/N: There's still two chapter left but this seems like the perfect ending that I was so close to closing the book here but no their story still has some gaps to fill. So do not fear and please come back for the last two chapters! Honestly, I'm not sure if one will come this Thursday and another one next Tuesday or both next week or one for the next two weeks, I can't promise anything but I hope to see all of you back and close off this story with you lovely readers that have been walking along with me and our characters on this journey!
I hope you enjoyed and have/had a wonderful day!!